Hobbes Leviathan (Natural Law)

79. The right of nature, which writers commonly call jus naturale, is the liberty each
man hath to use his own power as he will himself for the preservation of his own
nature; that is to say, of his own life; and consequently, of doing anything which, in his
own judgement and reason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto.

80. A law of nature, lex naturalis, is a precept, or general rule, found out by reason, by
which a man is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the
means of preserving the same, and to omit that by which he thinketh it may be best
preserved. For though they that speak of this subject use to confound jus and lex,
right and law, yet they ought to be distinguished, because right consisteth in liberty to
do, or to forbear; whereas law determineth and bindeth to one of them: so that law
and right differ as much as obligation and liberty, which in one and the same matter
are inconsistent.
And because the condition of man (as hath been declared in the precedent chapter) is
a condition of war of every one against every one, in which case every one is governed
by his own reason, and there is nothing he can make use of that may not be a help
unto him in preserving his life against his enemies; it followeth that in such a condition
every man has a right to every thing, even to one anothers body. And therefore, as
long as this natural right of every man to every thing endureth, there can be no
security to any man, how strong or wise soever he be, of living out the time which
nature ordinarily alloweth men to live. And consequently it is a precept, or general
rule of reason: that every man ought to endeavour peace, as far as he has hope of
obtaining it; and when he cannot obtain it, that he may seek and use all helps and
advantages of war. The first branch of which rule containeth the first and fundamental
law of nature, which is: to seek peace and follow it.

The second, the sum of the right of nature, which is: by all means we can to defend
ourselves. From this fundamental law of nature, by which men are commanded to
endeavour peace, is derived this second law: that a man be willing, when others are
so too, as far forth as for peace and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to
lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other
men as he would allow other men against himself. For as long as every man holdeth
this right, of doing anything he liketh; so long are all men in the condition of war.

But if other men will not lay down their right, as well as he, then there is no reason for
anyone to divest himself of his: for that were to expose himself to prey, which no man
is bound to, rather than to dispose him [81.] self to peace. This is that law of the
gospel: Whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them. And
that law of all men, quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris.